So I registered online for the AFA conference. :) I’m so excited. I’m very glad that I found a way to get there. Now I get to pick which workshops to attend. (And no, I didn’t have to pick them when I registered. I found that odd.)<\/p>\n
I’ve already scratched off the list the ones regarding adoption, donor eggs, and donor sperm (since we’re not considering any of those at this time), and the LGBT topics (for obvious reasons). Plus scratched off a couple that I’m simply not interested in. Now I just have to make a couple more decisions.<\/p>\n
First there’s Registration starting at 7:00am, complete with provided continental breakfast. Then there’s the Welcome, then a Keynote on Updates in ART and then one on ECT (Embryo Competancy Testing). None of those have anything running concurrently. After that there’s a coffee break before the Workshops start.<\/p>\n
Workshop One I have two choices:<\/p>\n
* Endometriosis – Management of Life Issues and Conception<\/strong> – I figure this could be interesting, considering I have Endo. Maybe I’ll learn something that I can use. However, I have very minimal Endo so I wonder how much would apply to me.<\/p>\n * Advances in IVF Stimulation Protocols<\/strong> – Right up my alley, right? ;) I love learning stuff like this. But on the practical side, I’m not sure how helpful that will be to us. But it sure would be interesting.<\/p>\n Workshop Two I really only have one after I narrowed it down:<\/p>\n * Single Embryo Transfer<\/strong> – The application of this is pretty obvious.<\/p>\n There was also Sexual Health in the Infertile Couple, which might have been an option, but I personally don’t think we have a huge issue with that, not like some couples. (Den of course might disagree with me, because he’s a horn-dog and always wants sex.) My desire is obviously down (or completely missing), but that’s pretty easy to figure out.<\/p>\n Lunch is after that. The info says there’s a concession, or we can go to some kind of restauraunt. I’ll probably do concession, I don’t feel like wandering outside in the middle of the conference and getting lost somewhere. :P<\/p>\n After that there are unfortunately two Keynote speeches at the same time that I would love to see, and I obviously can’t be in two places at once. Both sound wicked interesting, but I’m leaning more towards the first one.<\/p>\n * Having an IVF Baby One At A Time: The Elimination of High Risk Multiple Pregnancies<\/strong><\/p>\n * Distinguishing Fact from Fiction: Evidence Based Infertility 101<\/strong><\/p>\n Then for Workshop Three there’s again two contenders. There was also one about body image and infertility, but I don’t feel like I have a huge issue with that.<\/p>\n * Patient Friendly Infertility Treatment<\/strong> – Not really sure what exactly this will end up being. I wish they had descriptions, it would make it easier to narrow down.<\/p>\n * Stress, Relaxation Techniques and Reflexology<\/strong> – Which of course could be really useful in my upcoming cycle!<\/p>\n Then there’s another coffee break and a “special conference event” on donor compensation. And that’s it for my day. :) I hope on the train and head home!<\/p>\n I am just so excited, I really am. Den doesn’t really get why it’s so exciting to me, but I think it’s in big part because it’s an “adventure”, of sorts. I work out of my home part-time and part-time at a cat sanctuary. It’s not like I get out a whole lot. Plus I’m a total information junky and I love love love conferences and lectures. I really miss school but we just don’t have the cash to pay $400 for one class.<\/p>\n After Den had gone through his whole I don’t like cities, I don’t want to go to the conference, I don’t want to go away for the weekend<\/i> thing, he told me I could go but he wasn’t going to… and I decided I am fine to go alone. I considered staying at a shared-room hostel until I found the train that runs early-morning. I told him I’d find a train and it was cheap and I was all set to go. Yay! He comes in minutes later and tells me he’s not sure he wants me going into New York by myself. My reaction was something like this: o.O Why didn’t he tell me that in the first place? Why save it until I’d already made a decision and registered? But I patted him on the head and told him I’m a big girl and I’d be fine. What’s he going to do, sit outside the hotel for 8 hours? The train even goes straight to Grand Central Terminal, the hotel is directly across the street. I’ll be just fine.<\/p>\n (And this will not be the first time alone in a city. I’ve gone into Vancouver by myself for some immigration things, plus for some job-related things. And one year before we were married I ended up stranded in Chicago overnight due to a snowstorm, had to go find a hotel to stay at overnight. I found the experience rather liberating. I had to walk down a street at night to find someplace to eat… I found a diner, ordered a meal, ate in peace, walked by to my hotel and had a lovely night’s rest until I had to leave to catch my 6am flight. I somehow got through that experience feeling more refreshed than when I started! In fact I think I would love to go into NYC on my own and stay at a hotel and do sightseeing in addition to the conference… it’s only money that stops that’s idea, we just don’t have $100+ for me to stay overnight just for fun. The wrong city for finding a nice hotel room for cheap!)<\/p>\n Oh and PS? Period still hasn’t started. I. Hate. My. 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